-o0o-

"What will you be in this world, Aries? A lord like your father or A beggar on the streets like your brother? You can't marry a lord so what will you be? A girl only has so many options but you are only half a girl. Not much left for an urchin like you. You should remain a boy. Be the heir of our house."

The young girl looks down at her hands, soft but strong. She does not know what she will be at ten and three, but she knows what she won't be. She won't be a broken lord like her father, beating his family for his failures which are summed up in her and her brother. Nor will she ever be a sickly mother waiting to die like her own. For she cannot have children.

She won't throw her money away like her brother and pull at the trousers of the rich as they walk past. Because people like her think they don't have many options but this one knows better. She lifts her chin high under her mother's harsh gaze for the first time. She knows what she needs to do.

"Your father would kill you if you leave here. You are the last heir. You'll ruin this family if someone finds out about you. You must remain a boy to the public," she sneers, brown face marred with wrinkles and disgust. The girl feels nothing for her mother. The woman had loved her once, when she was a little boy. As brief as it was, it wasn't enough.

"I will find my way," the girl snarls, standing from her chair. Hate boils in her body at the sight the woman in front of her. She had allowed all of the beatings through the years. Turned her numb. "And when you and father die I'll be back here to take over our house. As Lady Blackheart."

The girl's mother scowls and points a crooked finger at her as she backs away. "You will be the death of us, face of evil! I renounce your name, spawn of the Stranger! We should have left you in the snow to die! It was you who cursed this House."

The girl laughs darkly in the doorway, mirthless and haunting. "You can have my belongings, but never my name. Other than that, I want no more memories of this family. When you and father die, I will see them all burn with you and this weakling house."

Her mother's screams echoe in her ears as she runs toward the gates of her home. Freedom whispers to her in the deep voice of the God of Death. The harsh cold of the North flowing in her veins. At that moment, everything changed for her. No longer would she be a victim.

No longer would she be weak.

-o0o-

"Fucking hell, it's hot," Aries growled under her breath. The heat of the south does not agree with her cold blood. She wonders why she is here for a moment, watching the people run about. Then, a flash of hate hits her like lightning. "Oh yes, of course."

Cersei Lannister. The lion wench. She had heard much of her in her travels. Her cruelness and greed. The ruthlessness of her strategies. Oh she'd heard much about her incestuous indeavors as well, but one nugget of knowledge made her blood boil as she made her way toward the Red Keep.

The death of Ned Stark was orchestrated by the Lannisters. The death of the Warden of the North. The death of this man ruined her house. What little power they had drained away with his life's blood. The bigger houses survived by only a thread due to their gold. House Blackheart, however, did not survive. Turning her mother and father into bigger monsters than before, giving the girl a thirst for blood.

The sun beats down on her armored back as she climbs the steps. Aries' strange eyes are down, yet she takes note of the queensguard standing at the doors. Of course, they stared at her like she was one of the commoners and she had been for years since she left. But, she didn't like to be perceived as anything. If she could be invisible forever like she had been for years, she would.

The guards stopped her as she made it to the door, steeping to the side to block her way. The girl hid her annoyance expertly, clasping her hands behind her back to look cordial.

"What business do you have here, lad," one of the men grunt. The girl feels a pang of annoyance at being perceived as a male but tucks it away. Being a man has benefits that being a woman does not. She decides to go along with it.

"I am Lord Blackheart. I have requested an audience with her grace. I bring information about the Targaryen wench," the girl said, dropping her already deep voice an octave. The men nod and step aside to open the door. Too easy, she muses. They should have requested evidence.

"This way, milord."

The girl walked through the door, grinning internally. She readied herself to slip into a role. Her shoulders square, stretching her tall frame to its full height as the doors close behind her. For the first time, she sees the iron throne in all of it's glory. Well, most of it. The Mad Queen sits upon it, blocking her view. Her short hair crowned and golden. If it wasn't for her permanent scowl she would be a beauty.

The queen's lip curls as the girl comes forward, an odd smirk. The girl feels hate come forth as she bows before her. Ser Jaime and Qyburn look at her oddly. Obviously, they did not expect her to look so foreign.

"Rise," Cersei ordered, sitting forth in her throne. The girl rises to look her in the eye. The intensity of her stare unnerves Cersei visably. "What was your name again, my lord?"

The girl grits her teeth. Of course she forgot. Lord Aries of House Black, your grace. A lowly house of the North and of no consequence in these matters. As you know, I bring news of the Targaryen threat that you will want to hear."

Cersei shifts in her seat, leaning forward. The girl can see her interest plain as day. The desperation for knowledge burns in the queen. This desire is what she had planned on. It is what makes all men fall.

"Go on, then. Tell me this news," Cersei said, voice commanding. The girl holds back a sneer and smiles instead. The queen must know that all knowledge comes with a price. Even false knowledge.

This Lord Aries steps forward earnestly, beginning to engage. A mountainous man steps forward from beside the queen and she stops immediately. Not out of fear but she portrays it anyway. No need for suspicion to leak into any of their minds.

"Your grace, I do wish to give you every bit of information that I have received from my sources but I must ask a favor of my own. As a lowly Lord, I must take what I can get," she wagers carefully. Choosing self deprecation to appease the powerful queen.

Cersei purses her lips and stood from her throne. Her brother moved quickly to her side but the queen shooed him away like a peasant. The girl almost wanted to laugh. The man was wrapped around his sister's finger tightly but looking at his angry expression, he'd be easiest to manipulate.

"You've come here to proposition me," Cersei asked angrily, moving into her personal space. Aries kept her ground easily. The woman was much shorter than her and obviously mad. No threat at all. However, the Moutain stood behind her ready to strike.

The girl bowed deeply as a show of submission. "I have to come to help you defeat the threat but I cannot proceed with my plan without gold, your grace.

I will give you one major secret for free. Daenerys Targaryen's dragon was wounded by spears in a fighting pit in Essos. It has yet to recover. There is word that it will die. Meaning, the rest can be wounded as well. My proposition, however, is not just about giving secrets. I wish to procure the Targaryen's downfall firsthand."

Cersei gave the first display of true emotion the girl had seen yet, eyes widening minutely. The queen's lip quirked just a bit, displaying her pleasure. She could see Qyburn's grin clearly, making her feel a wave of disgust. The man was cryptic.

"You would do such a thing for a woman you do not know? Queen or not. Is your motive marriage," Cersei asked, quirking a brow. Her lips spread into a smirk that was meant to be sexy but came off bloodthirsty. The girl sensed her motives and forced a flirting smile to her plump lips.

"No, your grace. Not just any woman. Not just any queen, but the most beautiful queen. However, I wish not for marriage, but partnership," the girl said adamantly. Cersei lifted her chin at the praise. The girl knew she had her then.

"I wish to travel across the sea to this wench and gather information for you, my queen. If you would be so kind as to give me a ship and gold, any information you desire will be at your fingertips. However, I am rather weary from my travel here. I wish to stay at least a few days."

Cersei became thoughtful for a moment, looking over the girl carefully. She kept the smile on her face, appearing earnest and subordinate. The queen seemed to like what she saw, for she reached out her dainty hand. The girl took it without hesitation and brought to her lips slowly, enticing the mad woman. Ser Jaime sneered from the stairs.

"You have your gold and your ship, Lord Aries. You will stay here for three days and give me all the information you have on her before you leave. After you arrive in Mereen, you will write me frequently. Do you understand?"

Cersei's voice was stern and unyielding. Her switch up was abrupt but the girl's mother was much worse than this. She keeps her calm without any effort and bows for the hundredth time.

"Yes, your grace. Anything to ensure your long and just reign," Aries said, looking the queen in the eye for good measure. The lies fell so easily from her tongue that Cersei smiled at her. However small.

"Good. Ser Gregor will escort you to your chambers whilst I speak with my Hand. I must make arrangements for your ship," she said, waving a hand at the Mountain. The girl bowed again and smiled, following the man gingerly.

She catches the eye of Ser Jaime as she leaves. His suspicious gaze follows her every step and she looks away before a smile comes to her lips. She almost feels bad for flirting with his lady but then again, it was needed.

I wonder what I can find out in three days?